Thousands Turn Out To Race For The Cure

It was a day of hope here in Bangor as over 4700 people turned out for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. Sally Bilancia is the Executive Director for the race and she’s seen the event grow every year. “Well there’s really no magic involved in this,” says Bilancia, “people come out to support the survivors, that’s what it’s all about, and everyone has some kind of connection to breast cancer in someway, a friend, or a family member, or a co-worker and it really brings out a lot of emotion in some people.”It also brings out the wild side in some people, like Phillip Lebreton of Bangor. He’s shown up to this race dressed as everything from a Rockman to Sponge Bob. This year Lebreton got even more creative. “Word got around this year that I was gonna run in pink body paint with a pink tu-tu,” he says, “so I’m living up to my word.” Of course the most impressive part about this event is watching the survivors themselves cross the finish line. Marjorie Adams of Cumberland was the first survivor to finish the race. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 1/2 years ago and after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation she says she’s back on track. “Well it’s wonderful,” she says, “I’ve been running for a long time and it’s been a big part of my life, it got me through my treatment, and kept me strong, during, before, and after.”Many of the survivors got through the race with a little help from their friends. Betsy Boyce is the leader of the team named in her honor. “That’s what I think of when I think of them,” Boyce says of her teammates, “they give me hope and courage and left foot right foot one foot in front of the other to conquer this illness.”Sheryl Colvin Ross, a Mother from hampden also ran on a team named for her. “I have an awesome group, ‘Shakin’ It For Sheryl’, there are over 30 people here, and some teams from John Bapst are running in my honor because my son goes there.”Sonja Sawyer is another survivor participating in this race with lots of support from her friends and family. “Well I have been fighting breast cancer for the past 4 years,” she says, “and what happened this year was, it started to out as a joke in terms of getting involved in this, turned into this huge thing we had over 30 members that have been on the team, everyone has been fantastic.”Many of the surviviors on hand had some messages of hope to those who may have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. “There is just so much hope and hope is the biggest thing right now,” Sawyer says, “just hold on to that hope, don’t let go and rely on your friends and family because there gonna be there for you.” Marjorie Adams also knows what it takes to beat breast cancer. “Well I hope that other woman who have been diagnosed, stay active, stay strong, it helps you get through the everyday and everything you need to go through in terms of treatment, surgery, or whatever it is , so be strong, stay active, think positively.”